to go on holiday a few days after Christmas

[Pickfords]

I have some time off work for a change, so would like to go away (overseas) just after Christmas, but friends are suggesting this isnt a great time to go as most places will be shut up . Surely not?

It will be just me and grown up DD. We don't want to just sit around a pool eating and drinking - We like getting out and seeing places and exploring, but it needs it to be safe to do so as just me and her. We have about 2k each to spend. And we don't ski and quite like sunshine.

AIBU to want to go at this time? And if not where have you been that might fit the bill?

New York

Definitely not shut after Christmas.

We went 28/12 to New York a couple of years ago. Spent just over a week there. Had a brilliant time.

Never been anywhere , but if there's a real + to this plan, I'm guessing that not many people would be holidaying with young children at this time of year. Have a great time.

New York barely shuts down on Christmas Day, never mind after Christmas. The sunshine part may be lacking, however...

Is Miami too much of a trek?

If you want sunshine and places not affected by the Christmas break, then I would have thought the obvious solution would be somewhere that doesn't follow the Christian calendar - Turkey, Morocco, Tunisia etc. Or Greece (orthodox Christmas is a different date)?

And for £2k each you might be able to get a package to somewhere in the far east (Thailand?) or even Australia - they do Christmas, but things certainly don't shut down there over Christmas and New Year.

Southern Europeans do the whole present-giving thing a few days after Christmas I think, maybe that's what they meant?

Thailand? Good time of year to go I think and a nice mix of sunshine and culture

A cruise!

It's the perfect time to do a Nile cruise as its a bit cooler - still lots of sun though.

Lanzarote is lovely, loads of kid friendly activities and far more cultural stuff than you'd expect given its reputation. Just don't stay in the centre of Puerto del Carmen!

Loads of people go away at Christmas - for some people the last place they want to be at xmas is at home (family issues or reminders of people who arent there)

Its a good time to go on holiday as it uses up statutory/bank holidays and the kids are off.

I had a couple of friends who were holiday reps and they were really busy over Christmas.

Long haul/far east would be great at that time of year if you can get a package. Though the Domminican Republic is good value (if you pick your hotel carefully).

Have a good time.....

Tasmania

Thailand for sure if you want to lie on the beach and do nothing. Vietnam if you want to do sightseeing / shopping.

I'd recommend South Africa. You could do an organized tour to visit a few parts, or a trip to Cape Town and then onto a safari. The weather would be gorgeous and there's no jet lag. I went a couple of years ago and always felt safe but there are lots of organised excursions if you prefer.

Goa! Brilliant weather, great food, chilled atmosphere and loads to see . Can't recommended it enough for a winter trip.

Thanks for all the suggestions - checking them all out on the net now.

Brazil - December to February is high season there.

Try Key West or Miami in Florida, or New Orleans. Brazil is very dangerous, as is South Africa and Egypt.
Disclaimer: I'm an American living in New England.

Yanbu.

Before dc, my dh and I went away loads at that time - skiing in France, city break in Florence and Zurich, even a trip to the Isle of Wight. We also went to NZ and spent Christmas on the beach. Love escaping at that time of year!

Brazil isn't 'very dangerous'; not as long as you take ordinary precautions like you would in any non European/Western place!

I've spent practically every holiday there since I was 17, first on my own then with a baby then with a baby and a toddler and now with 2 children. It's an amazing country with fantastic people.

We visited Rio last year with DC and felt very safe, you just have to be sensible.